Monthly Archives: February 2015

Save More Money on Your Heating & Cooling Bills With These Simple Tricks

This year, make a change that will help you save more money, so you can use it on more valuable things than heating and cooling your Omaha area home. Invest in a programmable thermostat, and if you already have one, learn how to use it correctly for the most effective money saving heating and cooling schedule. Here’s how to master your programmable thermostat and save up to 15% on your heating and cooling bills this year.

Step 1: Pick The Right Thermostat for Your Home

7 Day: This type of thermostat allows you to program a unique setting for each day of the week. You can set up to four periods in a day, every day of the week. This is best for individuals or families with busy or erratic schedules.

5-1-1- Day: With this type of thermostat you can program one setting for all of the five weekdays, and then separate programs for Saturday and Sunday. This system also allows you to set four periods per setting.

5-2 Day: This options allows you to program two settings, one for the weekdays and another for the weekends. Again, you can program four periods per setting.

1 Week: With this system you can program one setting for the entire week, with up to four sessions.

Of course, the more options you have with a system, the more expensive it is likely to be. The systems listed above are listed from most options, and more expensive to fewest options, and least expensive.

Step 2: Pick a Program You’ll Stick To

Once you’ve picked a programmable thermostat that is right for your home, it’s time to start programming. Most systems allow you to program four sessions per setting; wake time, sleep time, leave time, return time.

Start by setting your thermostat to a temperature you are comfortable at for the time you are home (wake and return time). From there, set your thermostat at 10-15 degrees cooler for the hours you are asleep or out of the house for an extended period of time (sleep and leave time). Of course, for the summer months you’ll want to set the thermostat at higher temperatures when you are asleep or away from your home. Here are some tips to help make your programmable thermostat work even more efficiently at saving you money:

For the days you don’t need cooling, manually shut off the air conditioning. It will kick back on if the house gets too warm.?

During the warmer months, program the air conditioner to shut off during the hours you’re out of the house.

Adjust the heat or air conditioning settings to kick on 20 to 30 minutes before you leave home each day.

Re-adjust the heat or air conditioning to kick on 20 to 30 minutes before you come home each day.

Adjust heating or cooling settings to kick on 60 minutes before you go to sleep each night.

Change heating or cooling settings to kick on about 30 minutes before you wake up each morning.

The tips above are most useful for homeowners who have one thermostat that controls the heating and air conditioning for the most of the home. For tips on how to use more than one thermostat to make your larger home more comfortable, read our blog post on temperature zoning with Getzschman Heating & Cooling.

Call G-force at (402) 721-6301 for help setting up your programmable thermostat, and keeping your heating and cooling bills lower.

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips For Your Omaha Area Home

More than 50% of carbon monoxide poisonings happen in homes.The silent killer is hard to detect, but can be kept at bay if you take the right steps now. The G-Force team can install carbon monoxide detectors in your Omaha area home and make sure they are working properly. Once they are installed in your home, you should check them regularly to make sure your home and family don’t fall victim to the problems listed below.

Did You Know . . . .

Each year carbon monoxide accidentally kills more than 500 Americans, and more than 20,000 Americans visit the hospital for suspected poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is typically vented outside of your home, but ventilation problems with your furnace or other systems can cause it to build up in your home.

Carbon monoxide can be created by stoves, generators, fireplaces, water heaters, vehicles, and furnaces

Carbon monoxide poisoning is often confused for the flu or food poisoning due to similar symptoms; shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness or headaches.

Action Now Can Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Later

The most important thing you can do is to make sure you have working CO detectors installed in several areas of your home

Religiously test your CO alarms once a month

Don’t let your CO alarms run out of juice by replacing batteries at least twice a year

Know what your CO alarm sounds like when it’s set off

If you think someone in your home is experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning or your CO detector goes off , make sure everyone inside the home gets outside where they can get fresh air and then call the fire department quickly

Never let your car idle to warm up inside of a closed space like a garage. Always move your car outside first.

During and after a snowstorm, clear the exit vents to your dryer, furnace, and stove

Always open the damper in your fireplace for proper ventilation when in use

Only use gas and charcoal grills outside because they produce CO gas

If you don’t already have working carbon monoxide detectors, call Getzschman Heating & Cooling at (402) 554-1110 to install them in your home. We are are still in the midst of winter and will be spending adequate amounts of time inside for several more months. Be safe. Take the necessary precautions now.